Brandon Knight finishes No. 8 on Rookie Ladder

NBA.com has ranked the top rookies all season and Knight, who was ranked as high as No. 4 this season, ended the year behind Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving, Minnesota’s Ricky Rubio, Denver’s Kenneth Faried, Sacramento’s Isaiah Thomas, Golden State’s Klay Thompson, New York’s Iman Shumpert and San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard.

While the rankings during the season took into account a player’s overall play as well as recent performances, the final rankings are based on the total season.

“It’s been a solid, if not spectacular rookie season for Knight,” wrote NBA.com’s Drew Packham. “He proved to be a better-than-advertised shooter – he ranks second among rookies in 3s made (103), most ever by a Pistons rookie – and had 11 games in which he topped 20 points per game. His 12.9 points per game is second only to Irving among rookies and he’ll finish fifth in assists (3.8). At just 20 years old, Knight has a lot to learn, but with the right pieces around him should become a better distributor to go with his scoring ability. ”

Knight was the Pistons’ first-round draft choice (eighth overall) out of Kentucky last summer.